Though not very tall by New York City standards, the narrow, 12-story Pell Building juts several floors above its even more diminutive neighbors. Thanks to this good fortune and a low-lying electrical substation across the street, the seventh-floor apartment of Cristina Miller and Philip Hall has wide open views, with large industrial windows providing a 360-degree urban panorama that includes a nearly clear shot of the Empire State Building just four blocks away.

A photographer’s live/work studio left untouched for 30 years, the apartment was in a state of disrepair when the couple purchased it for their growing family in 2014. A gut renovation, carried out by Aaron Schiller of Schiller Projects, aimed to maximize the natural light from the exposures and establish a generous family kitchen in the center of the home.

After dismantling the space completely, Schiller rebuilt it to flow more easily, with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a playroom, and a large open-plan living area. Since the elevator would otherwise open into the kitchen, Schiller designed a louvered timber screen—with a bench for removing shoes—to create an entrance hallway.

The sleek cabinetry and pale wood floors reflect Philip’s Scandinavian design leanings, while Cristina, who is chief commercial officer at digital marketplace 1stdibs, sourced many of the apartment’s vintage pieces, like a set of Charlotte Perriand chairs, from its dealers.